Hi..my PSR SQ16 floppy drive has stopped working has anyone tried a 720kb floppy drive emulator that works on a usb stick,if you have please help me as I am having trouble trying to find one that will replace the matsushita EME-213YV FLOPPY DIVE.please email me on kenfskinner@msn.com thanks,regards Ken

Rating: 0 out of 5
posted Thursday-Apr-26-2012 at 08:21

Barry Jones
a hobbyist user
from United Kingdom
writes:

I've had a PSR-SQ16 since the early 90's and it is still fantastic. Even the latest keyboards from Yamaha do not give so much flexibility. I download 1000's of Midi files from the internet and they all work superbly using the config table facility. A real tragedy that it was discontinued. I know that the newest sounds on the tyros etc are exceptionally good but you don't have the simple instrument overlay facility. A wonderful piece of kit. I am waiting for the tyros 4 to be released before I even think about upgrading.

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Tuesday-Mar-23-2010 at 08:12

Wayne
a hobbyist user
from Australia
writes:

I bought my first Yamaha PSR-SQ16 keyboard as ex demo model in 1992 updating from a PSR-400 which I out grew in 3 months. I had just started midi sequencing with Amiga computer using Blue Ribben Works Bars & Pipes software and found the PSR-400 was not GM compatible. The PSR-SQ16 had a great sounds and the styles were fantastic, the sequencer would play most midi formats of the day. Later on I found that Yamaha XG & Roland GS formats were not compatible with PSR-SQ16's internal tone generator, however it could play these XG & GS formats from the sequencer through the midi out port to compatible external tone generators. The 720kb floppy drive had storage limitation and the sequence only had 120kb of ram which limited the PSR-SQ16 to hold only 3 to 4 for midi files in its memory. Most time I used a computer with a midi interface to play my PSR-SQ16 songs it was faster way than using the 720kb floppy drive. I found that the PSR-SQ16 Sequencer could read, record & send most types of system exclusive, program and control change data through its midi ports. I even had the PSR-SQ16 sequencer working on a Yamaha EL15 organ and Technics EN10 organ. WIth the Bars & Pipes Software I was able to remap the songs recorded on the PSR-SQ16 native format and convert the files to General Midi GM and Yamaha XG formats. The drum tracks were the most complex to remap, the bass track had to raised up 2 octaves from PSR-QS16 format to suit GM. Some of the recorded auto accomp tracks like guitar sounds had to be raised up 1 octave and the PSR System exclusive data erased had to be rewritten to suit GM & XG formats along with the program & control changes. Basically the only the midi performance data could be used Using Bar & Pipes features on the Amiga computer allowed one control change number to be converted to another fairly easily. I spent many hours converting the songs that I had recorded on the PSR-SQ16 to suit GM & XG format. I recently purchased a Yamaha Tyros 2 a fantastic instrument, much easier to use. The Tyros 2 sound quality today is comparable to the PSR-SQ16 when it was brand new in its day. I am trying to convert some of my favorite styles on the PSR-SQ16 to play on the Tyros 2. I have had moderate success with converting songs recorded on the PSR-SQ16 to play on the Tyros2 using the Old Amiga computer and Bars & Pipes. Converting the PSR-SQ16 styles on the other hand is very complex and will take alot time. I have not found any compatible software to do the job.

I still have my first PSR-SQ16 and have played it for 16 years and stills works as good as new, many hundreds of hours of Music pleasure.

Rating: 4 out of 5
posted Sunday-Dec-14-2008 at 08:59

Info-age
a professional user
from USA
writes:

I purchased a PSR-SQ16 new in 1992, it's release year. Not being a keyboard player, I was not versed in the new coming GM Midi standard (created in 1991, but not yet implemented). I used it in a flurry of song creation. It had an awesome "new age" style that has since not been recreated, even in the tryos. Within two years the GM standard prevailed. I talked with Yamaha and was told that it was not possible to convert the recording files to GM. Also, conversion of songs in the proprietary SQ style to GM was impossible. Thus none of my songs could be used in subsequent PSR models. Yamaha did provide a free Hardware Module upgrade to correct a problem. In general however, they told me that the SQ16 was a model they would rather forget due to the nature of its proprietary style creation, and limited production run. I only use it now to play the songs created on it. It still is in perfect shape due to the lack of use, and then only in the home studio. Manuals can be downloaded from the global Yamaha site. It is totally unsupported with regard to style, song files. I would imagine that here in 2008 it is pretty much buried in history except for the very few of us.

Rating: 0 out of 5
posted Sunday-Mar-16-2008 at 15:52

Christopher McDouall
a professional user
from Nottingham, England
writes:

I have had my SQ16 since 1994. I use it to sequence piano accompaniments for my clarinet and saxophone pupils. As I am not a pianist I appreciate being able to input one hand at a time, quantise, and alter the tempo of individual bars to create rubato. I also appreciate the facility to add bass and drums to existing jazz piano accompaniments. Unfortunately the sequencing/recording section has died and the buttons no longer respond to touch. Does anyone know how to repair this or does anyone in the UK have an SQ16 for sale to replace mine? Chris McDouall